Another statement I have heard throughout the years from countless students is “I don’t like reading.”  Many times this statement is even more forceful — with the word “hate“ replacing “don’t like” and accompanied by an emphatic shrug of the shoulders and a matter-of-fact tone.  My standard answer has been “That’s like saying you don’t like to eat!  Reading, once learned, is an intuitive skill — like eating or breathing (thanks, Scout…). So, you may dislike ‘Sushi’ or ‘Potatoes’ but you would never say you hate eating!!  So, in my classroom, you are welcome to state that you hate ‘Romance’ or ‘Biographies’ but not reading.  It just doesn’t make sense!”  I’m not sure this metaphor of reading to eating ever truly convinced my students, but I’m an optimist at heart, as well as a voracious reader.

So, let’s say for the sake of argument that this metaphor DOES work.  Then the next question is…  WHAT should we read?  How should we train our palates?  One of the great benefits of joining a book club is exposure to different titles and types of books.  I can honestly say that I would have never read In Search of Schrodiger’s Cat if not for my book club (a surprisingly engaging read, by the way… for quantum physics).   Personally, I enjoy reading outside of my box — and I like to think my box is pretty big.  But back to the eating metaphor, just as a body needs a variety of food — nutritionally as well as to stave off boredom — I think a variety of genres is healthy for our brain.  On the library’s waiting list I’m number 210 for Nora Roberts, number 20 for Per Petterson’s Out Stealing Horses and just returned A Thousand Splendid Suns.  Granted, these are all works of fiction –  but I do consider these three titles to each be of different a caliber in the great pantheon of authors.

Back to my wayward students…  Of those individuals who I was able to convince to read for pleasure, and since I taught A. P. Literature and Composition for years there were quite a few, there would come a moment, usually in the late winter/early spring, when a student would approach me with a book in hand and say something like, “Since you have introduced me to countless titles that have now become a part of my heart and soul…”  O.k., it was more like, “Since you have forced me to slog through countless pages of classic angst and despair, I would like you to read a book that I actually enjoyed, that I think is  great.”  And I would see the latest Nicholas Sparks title rising to greet me.  Now, I recently read Three Weeks with My Brother and really enjoyed it — but his fiction is usually a little sentimental for my tastes and, more importantly, the student is considering Sparks to be the contemporary Dickens… only enjoyable. 

However, Sparks does reach millions of readers every year and has a passionate following — young and old.  Out of respect to my students, I have read The Notebook or A Walk to Remember,  and when I would return it, and the student would say, eyes shining, “See!  THAT is what we should be reading!!”  I always struggle with my answer…  Yes!  By all means read that which engages your heart and mind!  But we shouldn’t live only on appetizers and dessert!  Challenge your palate to adapt to gourmet dishes as well!  If Sparks is the master of the “amuse boush”, then Dickens is the master of the protein-rich entree…  Sparks will tickle your taste buds and leave you wanting more, but then let Dickens stick to your ribs and satisfy your soul…  Right? Or am I becoming the “Marcel” of the book bloggers…?